Transposing device for musical instruments

ABSTRACT

A transposing device particularly suited for a woodwind instrument, positioned between the mouthpiece and bell, forming a portion of the instrument&#39;&#39;s bore. The device includes means for selectively altering the internal bore diameter whereby tonal quality and pitch of the instrument may be selectively modulated.

United States Patent 1 Small Apr. 2, 1974 1 TRANSPOSING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS [76] Inventor: Terence S. Small, 4423 NW. 13th Ave., Gainesville, Fla. 32601 [22] Filed: Mar. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No; 345,224

52' us. Cl. 84/386 I [51] Int. Cl. Gl0d 9/00 [58] Field of Search 84/375, 380386, 84/394, 396, 350

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1935 Gemeinhardt 84/385 5/1897 Oliveri 84/386 1,562,091 11/1925 Howard 84/386 1,572,418 2/1926 Bender.... 1,802,791 4/1931 I Stover...

1,844,242 2/1932 Ciccone 1,895,761 1/1933 Juhn 84/385 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales 5? ABSTRACT A transposing device particularly suited for a woodwind instrument, positioned between the mouthpiece and bell, forming a portion of the instruments bore. The device includes means for selectively altering the internal bore diameter whereby tonal quality and pitch of the instrument may be selectively modulated.

14 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDAPR 2 m4 SHEU 1 Bf 3 Fig. 3

PAIENTEDAPR 2m 3800 651 sum 2 {IF 3 PATENTEDAPR 21974 SHLU 3 BF 3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly to a transposing device for wind instruments such as clarinets, piccolos, flutes, oboes, English horns and others having tubes with lateral tone holes.

. The normal pitch of these woodwind instruments must occasionally be varied to more closely harmonize with that of another instrument. For example, an accompanying piano may be pitched a fraction of a tone below the standard frequency A-440. In order to compensate for this difference, many musicians outwardly extend their instrument from various joints a desired degree. This effectively lengthens the air column between the reed of the mouthpiece and the holes of the instrument and produces a lower than normal pitch for that instrument. Unfortunately, such a partial retraction also has an undesirable effect on the tone of the instrument. Musicians are also confronted with the problem of using different pitch standards, both european and United States standards being employed in the various literature. Hence, musicians must transpose the music, a difficult task, which can only be accomplished by the highly skilled. It is, therefore, common practice among some musicians to have instruments of different pitch in order to overcome this problem. This practice is expensive and also requires the carrying of another instrument. 1

My invention Solves the problemsheretofore encountered by providing a transposing device for a wind instrument which allows the musician to selectively modulate the pitch and tonal quality of the instrument.

The transposing device of my invention is positioned between the mouthpiece and bell of a wind instrument, forming a portion of the bore therein. Also included are means for selectively altering the internal bore diameter whereby tonal quality and pitch of the instrument is selectively modulated.

In'the accompanying drawings, I have shown several of the presently preferred embodiments of my invention, in which: V

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the underside of a clarinet with an embodiment of my invention in place therein;

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of one embodiment of my transposing device showing the ball member with two bores therethrough;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 3 showing the ball member rotated 90;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of my invention showing the ball member with a bore therethrough; y

FIG. 6 is a section taken along line VIVI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of my invention showing the plate member and cylindrical housing;

FIG. 8 is a section taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of another embodiment of myinvention depicting the rotatable ring member;

FIG. 10 is a section taken along line X-X of FIG. 9 showing the iris member;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the rod member;

FIG. 12 is a plan sectional view showing the bore of an instrument with the rod member mounted thereon; and

FIG. 13 is a-view similar to FIG. 12 with the rod member rotated Referring now to the specific details of the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a clarinet 10, having a reed containing mouthpiece 5, a first joint section 6, commonly called a barrel joint, a second joint section 7 and a bell 8. In some clarinets, second joint 7 commonly comprises two joints, called respectively, upper and lower joint sections (not shown in FIG. 1). This feature permits the disassembled clarinet to be fitted within a more compact carrying case. The mouthpiece 5, joints 6, 7 and bell 8 fit into one another at connections 11, 12 and 13 respectively, each section having a reduced diameter portion which fits into a mating portion in the adjacent section. The joints 6 and 7 have a bore therein, extending from mouthpiece 5 to bell 8. Tone holes and key work 9 are also associated with clarinet 10, usually positioned about second joint 7.

A presently preferred embodiment of my transposing device is shown in FIGS. 2-4. This embodiment preferably replaces the conventional barrel joint or first joint 6 of clarinet 10. The transposing device includes a cylindrical housing member 6' having a bore 41 therethrough. Housing member 6' is sealably positioned at its ends 16 and 17 to mouthpiece 5 and second joint section 7, in the same manner as conventional barrel joint section 6. Bore 41 of housing 6 is in communication with the interior of the mouthpiece 5 and the bore of joint 7. A cylindrical seating member 18 having a bore 21 is sealably positioned within bore 41 of housing 6. Seating member 18 also has an annular groove 40 formed around the interior of bore 41 which sealably receives spherical ball member 15 therein. Seating member 18 may be constructed in two pieces, as shown in the drawings, to permit the insertion of ball 15 within groove 40. Cylindrical housing6' also preferably has an annular shoulder 42 formed within bore 41 to sealably receive an end of seating member 18 therein. Housing member 6' preferably includes an annular collar section 22 having an external threaded portion 23 formed thereon. Threaded section 23 threadably engages threads 24 formed within the interior bore 41 of housing 6' to permit collar section 22 to secure seating member 18 therein. Ball member 15 has a bore 20 formed therethrough preferably of the same diameter as bore 21 of seating member 18. A second bore 19 of smaller diameter than bore 20 is, likewise, formed through ball member 15. The longitudinal axes of bores 19 and 20 are positioned in perpendicular relationship with one another. A rod 14 is attached to ball member 15, havings its longitudinal axis positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the two bores 19 and 20. Rod 14 extends through the wall of seating member 18 and housing member 6' to permit rotative movement of said rod 14 and ball member 15 therein.

Acoustically, diminuation of the internal bore diameter within the transposing device results in a lowering of pitch in the instrument. In a clarinet, bore 20 of ball member 15 may be formed of a particular diameter which would produce the pitch of a standard Bb. Likewise, bore 19 of ball 15 would be formed of a smaller diameter to produce a lower pitch, preferably a one-half step below the fundamental pitch Bb which 20 is in. communication with bore 41 to a second position wherein bore 19 is in communication with bore 41. Transposition from A to Bb is, likewise, possible by simply rotating rod 14 90 from the above described position.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, ball member 15' contains a single bore 20 therethrough, preferably of the same diameter as bore 21 of seating member 18. In this embodiment, housing member 6" and seating member 18 areidentical to the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4 and, hence, need not be described once more. As in the above embodiment, housing 6" is preferably positioned in clarinet 10 between mouthpiece 5 and joint 7 as a substitution for barrel joint 6. Ball member is rotated within annular groove 40 of housing 18 by a rotatable rod 14 positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of bore 20. Manipulation means other than rod 14 could be. employed to rotate ball 15,'but I have found that rod 14 yields a preferred sealing arrangement at, housing 18. The embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 allows the musician to completely alter the internal bore diameter of the instrument from a fully opened position to a closed position shown in FIG. 6. The pitch and tonal quality of the clarinet 10 may be gradually and continuously modulated by manipulation of ball member 15' from the opened position to the closed position of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an additional embodiment of my transposing device employing different means for altering the internal bore diameter. Cylindrical housing would be the pitchA. Thus, the instrument could be member 25 having a bore 41 therethrough is sealably positioned at itsends l6 and 17 to mouthpiece 5 and joint section 7, replacing barrel joint section 6. Housing 25 has a slot 28 formed through its wall, slot 28 having a width at least as great as. bore diameter 29. A slidable plate member 27 is sealably positioned within slot 28 of housing 25, the plane of plate member 27 preferably positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore. Plate member 27 may then, be selectively moved from aposition where bore 29 is fully opened to a position wherein bore 29yis completely closed, permitting the musician to selectively modulate both tonal quality and pitch of the instrument. I

FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of my transposing device wherein the internal bore diameter is selectively altered by using an iris 33 similar to the type used in camera lenses. Iris 33 may be opened or closed by using a rotatingring member32 which is positioned around housing member 26. Housing member 26 isconstructed in the same manner as the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 8 and is preferably positioned between mouthpiece 5 and joint 7 replacing conventional barrel joint 6. Mechanicalmeans (not shown) are associated with ring member 32-and iris 33 for opening and closing the iris when ring 32 isrotated. The bore 34 of iris 33 can then be selectively altered to modulate tonal quality and pitch. Also associated with housing 26 and ring 32 are pitch or key indicia 38 and indicator arrow 39 which permit the musician to easily transpose the instrument by simply rotating arrow 39 to a desired key setting. It is, of course, understood that key indicia 38 and indicator 39 are cali- 4 brated with bore opening 34 of iris 33 in order to achieve the proper pitch.

Another embodiment of my transposing device is shown in FIGS. 11-13, wherein the means employed to alter the internal bore diameter of the instrument is in the form of a rotatable rod 30. Rod 30 is cylindrical in shape having two longitudinally extending concave grooves of different radii 37 and 36 respectively, extending on opposite sides thereof. Rod member 30 is preferably positioned on mounting pins 31 within at least one joint member, preferably joint section 7, FIG. 1. Joint member 7 has a slot formed through the wall thereof extending substantially its entire length to sealably receive rod 30 therein. As seen in FIG. 12, a larger radius groove 37 is positioned within joint 7, said groove forming a portion of bore 35. Rod 30 may then be rotated to a position shown in FIG. 13 wherein longitudinal. groove 36 forms a portion of bore 35. When the rod 30 is in the position shown in FIG. 13, the pitch of the instrument is lowered from that of FIG. 12 .due to the diminuation of the bore 35 along the length of joint section 7. Rotatable rod 30 is preferably positioned on the underside of clarinet 10 in order to avoid interference with the tone holes and key work 9. Rod 30 may then be easily rotated by the right thumb of the musician allowing maximum control of intonation and overall response and also complete transposition of the instrument by rotation of 180 between grooves 36 and 37.

It is apparent that various other means may be employed for selectively altering the internal bore diameter without departing from the spirit and scope .of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a woodwind instrument comprising a mouthpiece, a bell and a plurality of cylindrical joints forming a bore which extends from the mouthpiece to the bell, a trans posing device positioned between the mouthpiece and bell, said transposing device including means forming a portion of the bore for selectively altering the diameter of the bore whereby tonal quality and pitch of the instrument may be selectively modulated.

2. The transposing device of claim 1 including:

A. A housing member having a bore therethrough sealably positionedat its ends to the mouthpiece and a joint section; g

B. a seating member sealably positioned within the bore of the housing, said seatingmember also having bore therethrough and an annular groove formed within the bore;

C. the'bore alteration means including:

(1) a ball member, rotatably and sealably positioned within the annular groove of the seating member, said-ball member having a bore extending therethrough; and I (2) means associated with the ball member for selectively rotating said ball' within the seating member, whereby the bore of the ball may be removed from an open position to a closed position, relative to the bore of the instrument.

3. The transposing device of claim 2 wherein the means for rotating the ball member includes:

a rod attached to the ball member, positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore and extending through the walls of said seating member and housing for rotative movement therein.

4. The transposing device of claim 1, including:

A. A housing member having a bore therethrough, sealably positioned at its ends to the mouthpiece and a joint section;

B. a seating member sealably positioned within the bore of the housing, said seating member having bore therethrough and an annular groove formed within the bore:

C. the bore alteration means including:

(l) a ball member, rotatably and sealably positioned within the annular groove of the seating member, said ball member having two bores of different diameters extending therethrough, the longitudinal axes of the two bores positioned in perpendicular relationship; and

(2) a rod attached to the ball member, positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the two bores of said ball member and extending through I the walls of the seating member and housing for rotative movement therein, whereby each of the two bores of the ball member may be selectively rotated into communication with the bore of the instrument.

5. The transposing device of claim 1, including:

A. A housing member having a bore therethrough, sealably positioned at its ends to the mouthpiece and a joint section, the housing also having a slot formed through its wall, theslot having a width at least as great as the bore diameter;

a B. the bore alteration means including a plate member, slidably and sealably positioned within the slot, the plane of said platemember positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore, whereby thebore may be selectively opened or closed by manipulation of the plate member.

6. The transposing device of claim 1, wherein the bore alteration means includes an iris member positioned across the bore of the instrument, a ring member rotatably positioned around said instrument adjacent the iris and having key indicia thereon, also means associated with thering and iris members for opening and closing the iris when the ring is rotated.

7. The transposing device of claim 1, wherein the bore alteration means includes: an elongated rod memher having two longitudinally extending concave grooves of different radii extending on opposite sides thereof, a pair of mounting pins outwardly extending from each end of the rod member, said rod member rotatably positioned on said mounting pins in at least one joint section, said joint having a slot formed through the wall thereof and extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bore to sealably receive the rod member therein, whereby the concave grooves of the rod member alternately form a portion of the bore when rotatably aligned therewith.

8. A transposing device adapted to be sealably positioned between the mouthpiece-and a bore containing joint section of a woodwind instrument, comprising:

A. A housing member having a bore therethrough and adapted to be sealably positioned at its ends to the mouthpiece and joint section, the bore of said housing adapted to be placed in communication with the bore of the joint section;

B. means forming a portion of the bore of the housing for selectively altering the internal bore diameter of the housing whereby tonal quality and pitch of the instrument may be selectively modulated when the transposing device is positioned therein.

9. The transposing device of claim 8 wherein the housing member includes a seating member positioned within the bore, said seating member having a bore therethrough, communicating with the bore of the housing, the seating member also having an annular groove fonned within its bore, the bore alteration means including:

A. A ball member rotatably and sealably positioned within the annular groove of the seating member, said ball member having a bore extending therethrough; and

B. means associated with the ball member for selectively rotating said ball within the seating member, whereby said bore maybe moved from an open position to a closed position, relative to the bore of the housing.

10. The transposing device of claim 9 wherein the means for rotating the ball member includes:

a rod attached to the ball member, positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore and extending through the walls of said seating member and housing for rotative movement therein.

1 l. The transposing device of claim 9 wherein the cylindrical housing member also has an annular shoulder formed around its bore to receive an end of the seating member therein, said housing also including an annular collar section positioned at one end threadably attached within the bore of said housing to secure the seating member therein.

12. The transposing device of claim 11 adapted to be positioned between the mouthpiece and a joint section of a clarinet.

13. The transposing device of claim 8 wherein the housing member includes a seating member positioned within the bore, said seating member having a. bore therethrough, communicating with the bore of the housing, the seating member also having an annular groove formed within its bore, the bore alteration means including:

A. A ball member, rotatably'and sealably positioned within the annular groove of the seating member, said ball member having two bores of different diameters extending therethrough, the longitudinal axes of the two bores positioned in perpendicular relationship; and

B. a rod attached to the ball member, positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the two bores of said ball member and extending through the walls of said seating member and housing for. rotative movement therein, whereby each of the two bores of the ball member may be selectively rotated into communication with the bore of the housing.

14. The transposing device of claim 13 adapted to be positioned between the mouthpiece and a joint section ofa clarinet.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0 F (:0 R R ECT [0 N Patent No. 3, 800, 551 Dated April Z, 1974 InventorQQ Terence S. Small It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 2 Column 4 Lines 58 and 59 -re-moved-- should read --moved--.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 1974.

(SEL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN .Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM po'mso (w'ss) USCOMM-DC 60376-PG9 9 U S GOVEWNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I 959 0-35'5-33k UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0 F CORR EC'IION Patent No. 3, 800, 651 Dated April Z, 1974 InventorQQ Terence S. Small It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

'Claim 2 Column 4 Lines 58 and 59 re-movedshould read -rnoved--.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 1974.

(SEL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents Arresting Officer FORM Po-105o (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U 5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I969 0-356434, 

1. In a woodwind instrument comprising a mouthpiece, a bell and a plurality of cylindrical joints forming a bore which extends from the mouthpiece to the bell, a transposing device positioned between the mouthpiece and bell, said transposing device including means forming a portion of the bore for selectively altering the diameter of the bore whereby tonal quality and pitch of the instrument may be selectively modulated.
 2. The transposing device of claim 1 including: A. A housing member having a bore therethrough sealably positioned at its ends to the mouthpiece and a joint section; B. a seating member sealably positioned within the bore of the housing, said seating member also having bore therethrough and an annular groove formed within the bore; C. the bore alteration means including: (1) a ball member, rotatably and sealably positioned within the annular groove of the seating member, said ball member having a bore extending therethrough; and (2) means associated with the ball member for selectively rotating said ball within the seating member, whereby the bore of the ball may be removed from an open position to a closed position, relative to the bore of the instrument.
 3. The transposing device of claim 2 wherein the means for rotating the ball member includes: a rod attached to the ball member, positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore and extending through the walls of said seating member and housing for rotative movement therein.
 4. The transposing device of claim 1, including: A. A housing member having a bore therethrough, sealably positioned at its ends to the mouthpiece and a joint section; B. a seating member sealably positioned within the bore of the housing, said seating member having bore therethrough and an annular groove formed within the bore: C. the bore alteration means including: (1) a ball member, rotatably and sealably positioned within the annular groove of the seating member, said ball member having two bores of different diameters extending therethrough, the longitudinal axes of the two bores positioned in perpendicular relationship; and (2) a rod attached to the ball member, positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the two bores of said ball member and extending through the walls of the seating member and housing for rotative movement therein, whereby each of the two bores of the ball member may be selectively rotated into communication with the bore of the instrument.
 5. The transposing device of claim 1, including: A. A housing member having a bore therethrough, sealably positioned at its ends to the mouthpiece and a joint section, the housing also having a slot formed through its wall, the slot having a width at least as great as the bore diameter; B. the bore alteration means including a plate member, slidably and sealably positioned within the slot, the plane of said plate member positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore, whereby the bore may be selectively opened or closed by manipulation of the plate member.
 6. The transposing device of claim 1, wherein the bore alteration means includes an iris member positioned across the bore of the instrument, a ring member rotatably positioned arouNd said instrument adjacent the iris and having key indicia thereon, also means associated with the ring and iris members for opening and closing the iris when the ring is rotated.
 7. The transposing device of claim 1, wherein the bore alteration means includes: an elongated rod member having two longitudinally extending concave grooves of different radii extending on opposite sides thereof, a pair of mounting pins outwardly extending from each end of the rod member, said rod member rotatably positioned on said mounting pins in at least one joint section, said joint having a slot formed through the wall thereof and extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bore to sealably receive the rod member therein, whereby the concave grooves of the rod member alternately form a portion of the bore when rotatably aligned therewith.
 8. A transposing device adapted to be sealably positioned between the mouthpiece and a bore containing joint section of a woodwind instrument, comprising: A. A housing member having a bore therethrough and adapted to be sealably positioned at its ends to the mouthpiece and joint section, the bore of said housing adapted to be placed in communication with the bore of the joint section; B. means forming a portion of the bore of the housing for selectively altering the internal bore diameter of the housing whereby tonal quality and pitch of the instrument may be selectively modulated when the transposing device is positioned therein.
 9. The transposing device of claim 8 wherein the housing member includes a seating member positioned within the bore, said seating member having a bore therethrough, communicating with the bore of the housing, the seating member also having an annular groove formed within its bore, the bore alteration means including: A. A ball member rotatably and sealably positioned within the annular groove of the seating member, said ball member having a bore extending therethrough; and B. means associated with the ball member for selectively rotating said ball within the seating member, whereby said bore may be moved from an open position to a closed position, relative to the bore of the housing.
 10. The transposing device of claim 9 wherein the means for rotating the ball member includes: a rod attached to the ball member, positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore and extending through the walls of said seating member and housing for rotative movement therein.
 11. The transposing device of claim 9 wherein the cylindrical housing member also has an annular shoulder formed around its bore to receive an end of the seating member therein, said housing also including an annular collar section positioned at one end threadably attached within the bore of said housing to secure the seating member therein.
 12. The transposing device of claim 11 adapted to be positioned between the mouthpiece and a joint section of a clarinet.
 13. The transposing device of claim 8 wherein the housing member includes a seating member positioned within the bore, said seating member having a bore therethrough, communicating with the bore of the housing, the seating member also having an annular groove formed within its bore, the bore alteration means including: A. A ball member, rotatably and sealably positioned within the annular groove of the seating member, said ball member having two bores of different diameters extending therethrough, the longitudinal axes of the two bores positioned in perpendicular relationship; and B. a rod attached to the ball member, positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the two bores of said ball member and extending through the walls of said seating member and housing for rotative movement therein, whereby each of the two bores of the ball member may be selectively rotated into communication with the bore of the housing.
 14. The transposing device of claim 13 adapted to be positioned between the mouthpiece and a joint section of a clarinet. 